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A3384 Sanguisorba canadensis - Parnassia grandifolia Seep Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These are rich fens of the Southern Blue Ridge and related areas of the Southern Appalachians, adjacent Central Appalachians, and Ridge and Valley provinces of the southeastern United States.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Canadian Burnet - Largeleaf Grass-of-Parnassus Seep Alliance

Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian Rich Seep

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance accommodates rich fen vegetation of the Southern Blue Ridge and related areas of the Southern Appalachians, adjacent Central Appalachians, and Ridge and Valley provinces of the southeastern United States. Dominant species in herbaceous examples vary spatially with the amount of seepage and type of substrate, but typical dominants include Carex buxbaumii, Carex stricta, Cladium mariscoides, Helenium autumnale, Juncus subcaudatus, Muhlenbergia glomerata, Parnassia grandifolia, Rhynchospora alba, Rhynchospora capitellata, Sanguisorba canadensis, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Solidago uliginosa. In the Ridge and Valley of northeastern Tennessee, species present include Cardamine bulbosa, Carex atlantica ssp. capillacea, Carex leptalea, Carex lurida, Carex scoparia, Carex stipata, Carex stricta, Carex virescens, Carex vulpinoidea, Eutrochium fistulosum, Juncus coriaceus, Oxypolis rigidior, Packera aurea, Parnassia grandifolia, and Solidago patula. Occurrences are located in seepage areas underlain by limestones, dolomites, hornblende, gabbro, or gneiss at elevations ranging from about 700-1100 m (2400-3500 feet). In the Ridge and Valley of northeastern Tennessee, the examples are found at lower elevations.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: These are primarily herbaceous seepages, the flora of which contains noteworthy species which prefer circumneutral substrates.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Some examples of this vegetation are primarily herbaceous in composition with Sphagnum spp. and other bryophytes predominant beneath the herbaceous stratum; other examples have mixed physiognomy ranging from shrub thicket to herbaceous. The shrubs may occur within the stand or around the edges. In some cases there are a few scattered individuals of Pinus strobus and Acer rubrum but tree cover rarely reaches 10%.

Floristics: Dominant species in herbaceous examples vary spatially with the amount of seepage and type of substrate, but typical dominants include Carex buxbaumii, Carex stricta, Cladium mariscoides, Helenium autumnale, Juncus subcaudatus, Muhlenbergia glomerata, Parnassia grandifolia, Rhynchospora alba, Rhynchospora capitellata, Sanguisorba canadensis, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Solidago uliginosa. Shrubby examples may be dominated by a combination of Alnus serrulata, Gaylussacia baccata, Kalmia latifolia, Lyonia ligustrina var. ligustrina, Spiraea alba var. latifolia (= Spiraea latifolia), Spiraea tomentosa, Vaccinium stamineum, and other species. Typical mosses include Campylium stellatum, Rhytidium rugosum, Sphagnum bartlettianum, and Sphagnum subsecundum. In the Ridge and Valley of northeastern Tennessee, this saturated herbaceous vegetation occurs in a matrix of Thuja occidentalis-dominated woodlands. Species present include Cardamine bulbosa, Carex atlantica ssp. capillacea, Carex leptalea, Carex lurida, Carex scoparia, Carex stipata, Carex stricta, Carex virescens, Carex vulpinoidea, Eutrochium fistulosum (= Eupatorium fistulosum), Juncus coriaceus, Oxypolis rigidior, Packera aurea (= Senecio aureus), Parnassia grandifolia, and Solidago patula.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Occurrences are located in seepage areas underlain by limestones, dolomites, hornblende, gabbro, or gneiss at elevations ranging from about 700-1100 m (2400-3500 feet). In the Ridge and Valley of northeastern Tennessee, the examples are found at lower elevations.
Geographic Range: This alliance is restricted to eastern Tennessee, western North Carolina, and adjacent areas of northeastern Georgia and southwestern Virginia.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  GA, KY, NC, TN, VA


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D323 2.C.4.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nd.1 Shrubby-cinquefoil - Canadian Burnet / Inland Sedge Seep Macrogroup M061 2.C.4.Nd.1
Group 2.C.4.Nd.1.a Catawba Rosebay / Tawny Cottongrass / Peatmoss species Shrub & Herb Seep Group G184 2.C.4.Nd.1.a
Alliance A3384 Canadian Burnet - Largeleaf Grass-of-Parnassus Seep Alliance A3384 2.C.4.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL003917 Hazel Alder / Canadian Burnet - Largeleaf Grass-of-Parnassus - Shortleaf Sneezeweed Seepage Shrubland CEGL003917 2.C.4.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL004167 Smooth Sawgrass - Canadian Burnet / Orange Peatmoss Herbaceous Seep CEGL004167 2.C.4.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL004252 Hazel Alder / Canadian Burnet - Bluejoint Seepage Shrubland CEGL004252 2.C.4.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL004944 Bristly-stalked Sedge - Largeleaf Grass-of-Parnassus - Leathery Rush - Roundleaf Goldenrod Ridge & Valley Herbaceous Seep CEGL004944 2.C.4.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL006249 Broadleaf Meadowsweet - Gray Dogwood / Bluejoint - Canadian Burnet - Broom Sedge Seepage Shrubland CEGL006249 2.C.4.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL007048 Common Ninebark - Hazel Alder / Royal Fern - Largeleaf Grass-of-Parnassus - Blueflower Eryngo Seepage Shrubland CEGL007048 2.C.4.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL007062 Hazel Alder Appalachian Seepage Shrubland CEGL007062 2.C.4.Nd.1.a
Association CEGL008461 Upright Sedge - Yellow Marsh-marigold - Stiff Cowbane - Purple-stem Aster Herbaceous Seep CEGL008461 2.C.4.Nd.1.a
Concept Lineage: Associations are from A.1447 (1/6); A.1452 (3/6); A.1880 (3/9); and A.3026 (1/1). One association placed here (CEGL007048) was not part of any old alliance.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): M. Pyne, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.